Ogun State has emerged as a national reference point in grassroots women empowerment following the successful formation of 1,613 Women Affinity Groups under the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), drawing delegations from nine states across the country to understudy its implementation model.
The visiting states — Ekiti, Abia, Kwara, Kogi, Delta, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Anambra and Ondo, alongside officials of the Federal Government, are currently in Ogun on an implementation support mission for Southern states, held in Abeokuta.
Speaking at the engagement, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, attributed the feat to the sustained commitment of the Ogun State Government under Governor Dapo Abiodun, the acceptance of the project by communities, and the strategic planning of the project team.
Adeleye described Women Affinity Groups as the foundation of the NFWP-SU, noting that they provide a structured platform for mobilising and empowering women at the grassroots.
“Women Affinity Groups are the backbone of the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up because they foster trust, collective savings, peer learning and accountability.
“Through these groups, women gain access to financial literacy, business support and livelihood opportunities in an inclusive and sustainable way,” she said.
She added that the groups strengthen social capital and give women a collective voice, ensuring effective programme delivery, community ownership and long-term impact across implementing local government areas.
The commissioner noted that the present administration had consistently demonstrated confidence in women’s capacity to drive economic and social development by providing strong policy and institutional backing for women-focused programmes.
Although the Nigeria for Women Project commenced in 2018, Adeleye said the Abiodun-led administration not only sustained the initiative but expanded it through the Scale-Up phase.
“I often describe the Governor’s approach as a practical demonstration of the ‘He for She’ principle. His support for women empowerment is evident in concrete actions, not mere declarations,” she stated.
She disclosed that Ogun State had exceeded all benchmarks at the scale-up stage, becoming the only participating state to surpass the formation of 1,000 affinity groups, with figures now nearing 1,700.
“Our achievement reflects effective programme execution and the growing confidence of women across communities in the initiative,” Adeleye said, while commending the State Project Coordinator, Mrs Bolanle Fadairo, and her team for what she described as dedication and professionalism.
According to her, the willingness of women to form additional groups beyond prescribed limits underscores their strong belief in the project’s impact, adding that the state was already reaping the developmental benefits of investing in women at scale.
In her remarks, the State Project Coordinator, Mrs Bolanle Fadairo, said the engagement provided an opportunity for active interaction between the Ogun project team and delegations from participating states and the Federal Government.
She disclosed that a total of 1,613 Women Affinity Groups had been recorded under the scale-up phase, which commenced in September 2025.
Fadairo noted that the understudy mission would further strengthen the project’s operations, positioning the team to surpass expectations of implementing partners while delivering a more responsive and impactful women empowerment model.
She added that Ogun State remained committed to deepening grassroots engagement and sustaining the momentum of the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
